According to an article in the Manassas Observer dated December 2, 2011, Vol. 3, No. 8, I read this interesting article in the newspaper this past week and was impressed to read that the Manassas City Council in Manassas, Virginia, has its eyes on five locations for charging vehicles. The City Council is considering a proposal which would allow motorists to plug their vehicles in at five different locations.
I felt this was a good article for the Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park, Virginia, folks who already own drive electric vehicles and possible future electric buyers to be informed about.
According to the paper, the city’s electric department applied and received six electric vehicle charging stations through the Charge Point America, a U.S. Department of Energy program which is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. (ARRA).
According to the City, Mike Moon, Public Works and Utilities Director, he advised the city’s finance committee there are five locations for five charging stations at a meeting on November 16, 2011. Depending on a purchase order and the manufacturing time Moon estimates it could be as long as three or four months before the charging stations will be available for operation.
The charging stations will be installed in public areas. Upon the council’s approval,
the locations will be:
(1) One at the VRE parking garage, 9102 Prince William Street, Manassas, Virginia.
(2) One at 8500 Public Works Drive, Manassas, Virginia, at the public works facility.
(3) One at the Manassas Museum, Manassas, Virginia.
(4) Two at City Hall – 9027 Center Street, Manassas, Virginia.
These charging stations will be reserved for low emission vehicles and hybrid only. Moon indicated that these stations are manufactured by Coulomb Technologies and will be provided to the city at “no” cost which comes under the Charge Point America program. The city will be required to pay a $450 fee per device for the installation and initial commissioning…each device has a value of $5000, according to the manufacturer.
There will be a 2-year pilot program and then Manassas will own the charging stations and they will be able to sign a subscription agreement which will cost $180 per year for each device.
There will be a $5 fee for charging a vehicle per session, and get this, you’ll be able to pay for it with a debit or credit card.
It was indicated that the department head has added the city wants to promote the use of electric vehicles since electric cars are becoming more popular and the charging stations in the city will facilitate longer trips.
Reference:
Manassas Observer dated December 2, 2011, Vol. 3, No. 8